Pneumatic-tire construction



Oct. '27, 1925 B; AMES 7 PNEUMATIC TIRE CONSTRUCTION Original FiledSept. 22, 1920 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITE-IL) STATES mmomez.

BUTLER. was, or LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

rnnumrrc-zrmn consrnuc'rron;

Application filed September 22, 1920, Serial 110,411,949. Renewed April18, 1925.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known thatI, BUTLER AMEs, a citi-' for use as a reinforcement forthe shoe or other cover of such a tire and to -a mode of producing thesame. As commonly constructed such carcasses have been formed by windinga continuous strand of cord or wire I such beads lying in substantiallyparallel relation and serving as a reinforcing medium for the rubber orother compound, which is thereafter applied for forming the main portionof the shoe. As heretofore constructed, however, the bead formingannuluses about which the strands of cord pass are commonly of wire,metal or other relatively hard and rigid material and it is" ,found inpractice that the strands at the points Where they engage such annulusesrapidly become worn, due to the friction between them and such hard ormetallic elements.-

An object of' the present invention is to provide a bead forming annulusfor use in a cord tire of the type referred to, of such a character thatthere will be little or no tendency for wear to develop in theconnecting strands at the point where they engage such annulus. Tothisend the annuluses may be of some relatively soft substance such forexample as textile material. In a preferred form of the invention it iscontemplated that the annulus forming cords will take the form of ropesof textile material of a diameter substantially larger than that of theconnecting strands and if desired of the same material as the latter.

In tire carcasses as previously-constructed in which a wire annulus isemployed, there is more or less tendency of the wrapping cords to sliplongitudinally of the wire, there being no positive connectiontherebetween. Such slipping of the cords serves to change their relativearrangement, permitting them to pile one on the other andthus'injuriously affecting the uniformity of arrangement which isdesirable-in providing the proper distribution of strain throughout thearea of the fabric;

A further object of the present invention is to provide, in areinforcing fabric for tires, a structure in which there can be no-longitudinal slippinglof the connecting cords relative to the beadforming annuluses. One mode of attaining the object desired is to soarrange theconnecting strands that each individual strand shall beinterconnected with the annulus where it engages the latter When acord-like annulus, such as above described, is employed, such connectionmay be made by causing the connecting strand to pass transverselythrough the cord annulus at its point of engagement with the same. Onemode of arriving at this result may comprise the simultaneous formationof apair of annulus cords together with the throwing of a strand cordbackward and forward between such annulus cords during the process offormation, permitting such strand .cord to be caught and interwoven withthe elements of the annulus cords, thus producing a ladder-like fabrichaving no warp strands interposed between the spaced annulus cords.

While as above indicated it is contemplated that the annulus cords maybe of any.

when subjected toa combined longitudinal strain and transverse bending.It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a tirecarcass of the class described,-a cord annulus of a type which is notsubject to the defects common to twisted cord, such for example'as thetendency of the latter to spread open when subject to longitudinalstress and transverse bending, and its failure to recover its originallength when stretched while in confined condition, as is the case with atire annulus after it is embedded in they rubber coating.

With this end inview, a solid cord annulus comprising interbraidedstrands may profitably be employed. A cord so condividually as are cordannuluses formed of twisted strands. It" is afurther object of thepresent v invention to employ as the threads or fabric elements makingup both the crossing strands and the cord annuluses,, braided elementssuch as braided threads" or cords well known in the textile arts. It isfurther contemplated that when, employing braided annulus cords thecrossing strands may form component parts of said cords, each of suchstrands being interbraided with one of said cords through a portion ofits length and then being carried in a free run across to the othercord, where it will be interbraided therewith for a suitable distance,after which the strand will again be carried in afree run across to theother cord and interbraided therewith.

In forming a tire fabric in the manner just described it is preferredthat a connecting strand, in emerging from one of the annulus cords,pass directly across to the other cord and enter. the same forinterbraiding therewith at. a point corresponding in the length of saidcord to the point from which it emerges'from the other cord, suchcrossing cords thus being substantially parallel one to another andlying substantially at right angles to the axis of the annulus cordsthus producing a fabric of ladder-like form.

In forming, a tire carcass such as above described in the prior art ithas been common to form the bead members as rings and then subsequentlywind the crossing cords thereover. .This is a 'slow and laboriousprocess and an object of the present invention is to provide for forminga tire fabric which may be produced in indefinite lengths and cut 011 atthe proper intervals for forming individual tire carcasses.

In accordance with the present invention 'the above object is" attainedby producing a ladder-like tire fabric comprising a pair of flexibletextile bead cords having the connecting strands positively engagedtherewith, thus permitting a length of the fabric including the beadcords and the connecting certain of such-objects may be attainedbycoveringwire annuluses with textile material by braiding strands of suchmaterial thereover While transferring certain of such strands from timeto time from the covering of one wire tovthat of another in the mannerheretofore, referred to.

A preferred form of the fabric in accordance with the present inventionis-shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview with parts in cross-section showing a tire coveror shoeconstructed. in accordance with the present invention.--

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectionof'a; fabric body, or carcass employed forre-enforcing the tire shown in Fig. 1. v

F ig. 3 is a fragmentary side'elevation of the carcass shownin F ig. 2looking in the direction of'the arrow a.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modified form ofthe carcass;

Fig. 5 is a fra 'mentary side view of the device shown in' ig. t'lookingin thedirec= tion of the arrow- 1).

'Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which .thecrossing strands of the device of Fig. 2 pass from one of the beadforming cords to the other, and Fig. 7 is a view similar to the lefthand side of Fig. 2 but illustrating a further 'modifica: tion.

1 is the outer covering of the tire shoe, such outer covering beingcommonly constructed of vulcanized rubber or it's-equivalent, and

2 is the inner covering thereof, such inner covering being integral withthe outer cove ring 1. Embedded in-the substance of the inner and outercoverings is. a 'cord-reinforcement, which in the arrangement shown inFig. 1 comprises carcasses 3, 4 respectively, of the type shown in Fig.2, such carcasses being however, arranged in such manner that the beadconnecting strands thereof lie in crossed relation in passing about thecircumference-of the shoe.

Referring to Fi s. 2 and 6, the cord carcass consists of a fabric ofladder-like form preferably having a pair of solid braided cords, 5, 6connected by strands 7, Swhich in the particular instance shown in saida figure are interbraided with the cords 5, 6,

the form of interengagement "of a strandstrands 7, 8 constitute thesoleconne'ction between cords and 6,'no war orlongitudinal strands beinginter ose between such cords. Thus the stran s 7, 8 are free tointerconnecting strands such as It, 8. As-

' move into the sameiplane when the fabric is Est into use,

ermitting a maximum'numr of suchfa ric carcasses-to be employed with outunduly thickening the tread por-,

tion of the shoe. Thistype of. fabric,-having no interve'i1ing warpstrands between the an us cords is herein termed for conveniencedescription a ladder-like fab ric.; Whilethe carcassmayfbe formed by lhand, by a manual braiding operation, it is contemplated in thecommercial production of, such carcasses that properly designed braidingmachines will be employedcapable of simultaneously braidingjthe cords 5and 6 and of transferring at intervals strands from one of said cords 5,6 to the other, such transferred" strands extending loosely .be-

tween the cords 5 and 6, thereby forming in the shoe. When thusincorporated in a tire, all of the strands 7 and 8, where they passabout the tread portion of thetire, lie substantially in the same plane,or more accurately stated, constitute a sheet of a uniform thickness,equal. to the diameter of one of its const protruding portions. such aswould be occasioned by crossing of the strands intermediate the cords 5and 6.

the employment of such a tire carcass in the formation of a shoe of thetype seen in Fig. 1, a pair of carcasses as 3,4 will be placed withtheir-cords, 5, 6, infparallel reside thereof. By employing braidedcords as the bead forming elements a much more lation as illustrated at5--5", 66", in Fig.- 1, and .with their interconnecting strandsextending in directions inclined to the axis of the shoe, the connectingcords. of the respective carcasses running in opposite directions'andcrossing each other over the circumferential portion of the shoe. Thetwo carcasses thus arranged are then embedded in the rubber coveringforming the surfaces annuluses commonly employed in making rovide theneces-- cord tires and serve to sary bead at'the base 0 the shoe at eachflexible bead is obtained and at the same' time by the integralengagement of the connecting strands with thebead forming cords there ismuch less danger of chafing. of the tuent strands and having no.

strands and of their separation from the bead'forming elements.

As a modlfication of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the arrangementshown in -Fig's. 4 and 5, may be employed in which theinterconnectingstrands 9, 10, instead of being interbraided with theelements of the bead forming cords, may merely intersect such cords. I

Preferably'the strands 9, 10 will be continuous' one with the other,engaging first a cord and then a cord 16. While the strands 9, 10, mayif desired be a'ssed through the cords 15, 16, after the ormation of thelatter, it 1s regarded as referable to interweave" such strands with thebraidin of the latter. This may be accom lis edas a handoperation or bythe emp oym'entof a mechanically operated elements of the cords 15, 16,during the shuttle passing backward and forward be-' tween a pair ofbraiding machines adapted Y to form the cords 15, 16. While this latterarrangement eliminates the necessity for employing a wire annulus as thebead forming element, it does not hold the interconnecting strands asfirmly as the arrangement first described, the latter being re-' gardedas the preferred form. t

'- While with either of the arrangements previously described it ispossible to employ twisted strands as the elements of the cords 5, 6 andfor forming the interconnecting strands 7, 8, it is regarded asdesirable that all of'such strands be of braided material and thia isalso true of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4. By emplo ing braidedstrands as the elements of the b cords and as the in rconnectingstrands, there is much less ten ency for the cord car'- cass to becomese arated in use from the rubber within which it is embedded, therebeing'no tendency in the braided cord when placed under tension to turnor twist as is true of a twisted cord or.strand.

While as herein shown'in Figs. 2 and 4,

ead forming the cord carcasses comprise series of inter- 'cords of therespective series 7, 8, are

brought substantially into the same plane, alternating with one anotherlongitudinally .of the carcasses, this being permitted by reason of theladder-like structure of the carcass fabric, wherein the onlylongitudi-' nal strands or warps are the spaced, par- .allel bead'forming cords 5,," 6. This pro-- vides a close and compact arrangementof the'cords in the tire shoe providing a verythorough reinforcement ofthe same.

The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5 is I generally similar to that ofFig. 2 with the exception that the cord 5 has a core 20of previouslydescribed arrangements.

Having thus described the invention in a preferred embodiment of thesame together with the mode of use thereof what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

l. A ladder-like fabric'for use in' the manufacture of pneumatic tirescomprising a pair of substantially parallel braided cords, and a seriesof strands arranged substantially at right angles to the axes of saidcords and connected at their opposite ends with the respective cords foruniting the latter.

2. A ladder-like fabric for use in the construction of. pneumatic tirescomprising a pair of longitudinally extending solid textile cords spacedapart in substantially parallel relation and a series of braided textilestrands interconnected at their opposite ends with the respective cords,said strands being arranged substantially at right angles to said cordsand adapted, when incorporated in the tire, to constitute a sheet ofsubstantially uniform thickness in the tread portion of the tire.

3. A fabric for use in the making of pneumatic tires comprising a pairof substantially parallel, solid bead elements of braided textilematerial spaced apart and without intervening parallel strands and aseries of textile strands united at their opposite ends with therespective bead elements, said latter strands being arrangedsubstantially parallel to each other and adapted when incorporated in atire to form "a sheet of substantially uniform thickness in the treadportion of the tire.

4. A ladder-like fabric for use in making pneumatic tires comprising apair of solid braided cords spaced apart in substantially parallelrelation, and a series of textile strands of relatively small diameteras respects said cords, said strands being arranged substantially atright angles to said cords and interconnected at their opposite endswith the respective cords.

5. A ladder-like fabric for use in making pneumatic tires having incombination a pair of solld bead members comprising interbraidedfilamentous elements, and a series of strands integrally united to saidhead members, said strands being arranged sub- .stantially-at rightangles to the axes'of said bead members. A

- 6. A fabric for use in making pneumatic tires comprising a pair ofsolid bead members each comprising metallic wires covered by filamentouselements interbraided thereover and a series of strands interbraidedwith said elements, said strands extending between said bead members andsubstantially at right angles thereto.

7. A ladder-like, tirecarcass fabric com-' prising a pair of metalliccore wires, braided textile strands interbraided about each of said corewires to form solid bead members, and substantially parallel strands oftextile material connected at their opposite endswith the respectivebead members for uniting said head members.-

8. A fabric for use in making pneumatic 'tires comprising a pair ofsolid bead members each consisting of interbraided textile stran certainof said strands being interbraide alternately with the respective beadmembers and presenting free runs lying substantially perpendicularly tothe axes of said bead members and serving to interconnect the latter.

9. A cord tire fabric of ladder-like con- 11. A cord tire fabric ofladder-like construction comprising longitudinally extending spacedmembers, and a series of strands parallelly arranged and connecting saidmembers, said strands and said members each comprising interbraidedfilamentous elements.

12. A tire fabric of ladder-like construction comprising a pair ofsolidbead cords consisting of interbraided strands and a series ofstrands parallelly arranged and connecting said bead cords, all ofsaidstrands comprising interbraided textile filaments. 1 a

13. That method of producing, cord tire fabric which comprisessimultaneously interbraiding filamentous strands in independent groupsto form solid, braided cords, discontinuing, at intervals, theinterbraiding of one strand with the other strands of one of saidgroups, associating said strand with strands of the other group, andinterbraiding said strand with strands of said latter group, such,interbraiding commencing at a point in the length of said latter groupcorresponding substantially to the point in the first group at whichsaid strand was withdrawn.

14. That method of forming cord tire fabric which comprisessimultaneously braiding a' pair of cords each comprising a plurality oftextile strands, discontinuing, at intervals the interbraidingof onestrand with the fora predetermined distance, and then dis continuing theinterbraiding of said strand with the latter cord and againinterbr'aid-ing it with said first cord, the point ofemergence of saidstrand from one cord and the point of its incorporation in the othercord being at substantially corresponding 1 positions-in the lengths'ofthe respective cords.

Signed by 'me at Boston,- Massachusetts, this thirteenth day of July1920.

Y BUTLER JAMES;

